Let's face the truth. There are many different views on the Bible. So many, in fact, that it is almost impossible to determine who is right. Almost everyone has a good argument why their interpretation is right. Of course, I'm like everyone else and think my interpretation is right. One day, I learned a great lesson on how God thinks and how to use the Bible.
At one point in my life, I lived in a very religious city. There were religions everywhere. Not only were the people religious but they loved to talk religion. I found myself talking with many pastors and clergyman. Almost always our conversations turned into arguments over doctrine. I began to notice that the same verses of scriptures were used against my religion with almost ever pastor. It was like they were reading a script. I was amazed, so I devised a cunning plan. I memorized the pattern, found all the scriptures that supported my position against that and attacked them back. Kind of a shock and awe tactic.
Over the next few weeks, I became pretty good at Bible bashing. I convinced myself that it was okay because I was correcting the errors in other interpretations in the Bible. I thought, if they kept these errors and spread them further, they would erode God's word even further than it already has been eroded. If they only could see the error in their doctrine, then they would join me "in truth." I don't like to brag but I was good. I was so good I sought out more victims to thrash. Even knocking on other religious leaders doors for the purpose of creating an argument.
One day a friend of mine asked me to go visit with his friend who just returned from Bible school. I happily agreed. While we were visiting, this newly trained student began the usually scripture bashing routine. I played along for a few minutes. When he got to a very familiar passage, I took him to town showing him verse and verse where he was wrong. Not only where he was wrong but his whole faith was wrong.
After a half an hour, I stopped I looked around and everyone's head was down. According to the world, I had won. He had nothing to come back with. At that moment, I felt horrible. I told him that I should go.
We walked out into the night air. I didn't want to be around anyone. Something was eating me up. I needed to know what it was. I walked down a dark road praying. I asked, "Father why do I feel like this?" I then realized I must have done something terribly wrong. I asked God to forgive me for creating such a evil atmosphere in that man's home. After I asked, I felt words. I didn't hear a voice but it was like I did. The words were put directly into my mind. God said, "shame on you for using My word to destroy another man's faith in Me."
I was shocked and awed. I saw all the timed I had used the Bible to win a verbal battle. It was never for the Lord it was for me to be "right." I learned that the Bible is meant to uplift and enlighten; not to prove others wrong. I know God loves me and forgives me of destroying other men's faith. I hope I never do it again.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Sunday, September 6, 2009
How can God love us if he allows all this suffering
Many years ago, in a foreign country I really learned the love of God. During that time I was living in a small village just outside of a city. Once a week, I would come in town and meet with some friends and get some things done. As friends, we would go eat at a local diner.
I still remember the first time I met that young boy. I don't know his name but his condition was so horrific that no man could not help but notice. His arms were deformed from the shoulders down. His hands looked like they had been tortured to a non-human form. His legs were just as bad. His face was so deformed that it made it almost impossible for him to speak properly.
I first saw him dragging himself to the front entrance of the diner where we were going to eat. I couldn't help but notice him and I had a feeling neither could anyone else there. There was something within us all that wanted to reach out to him. But we didn't. We all sat there and ate. I watched out of the corner of my eye as person after person walked past him acting as if they could not see. Like they were so busy to notice, like he was invisible. All notice he was there. I sat in sham as I too did not extend my hand to him.
One of my good friends, Hope is his last name, stood up with his meal walked out of the diner and sat next to him. The rest of us looked at each other and like sheep stood up to follow a good shepherd. We sat by the door eating with him. I gave my food to this man; but he fed me. I don't know how to explain it other than I felt full. Full of all that I needed to survive in this world.
It was time for us to leave so we stood up and on his face was a beautiful smile. More beautiful than I had seen in my whole life. It was a smile of complete joy. We turned and jumped on a bus to go home. As we sat there on the bus. We all sat silently. I looked in the eyes of each of my friends. All were filled with tears. A feeling overcame me that must have overcame them. I bowed my head and thanked God for the experience. I felt these words that I'll never forget, "thank you, I love that man."
Many say, how can God love us if he allows all this suffering. I don't think words can answer that question but what I felt that day on that bus has answered it for me. He does. I know it.
I still remember the first time I met that young boy. I don't know his name but his condition was so horrific that no man could not help but notice. His arms were deformed from the shoulders down. His hands looked like they had been tortured to a non-human form. His legs were just as bad. His face was so deformed that it made it almost impossible for him to speak properly.
I first saw him dragging himself to the front entrance of the diner where we were going to eat. I couldn't help but notice him and I had a feeling neither could anyone else there. There was something within us all that wanted to reach out to him. But we didn't. We all sat there and ate. I watched out of the corner of my eye as person after person walked past him acting as if they could not see. Like they were so busy to notice, like he was invisible. All notice he was there. I sat in sham as I too did not extend my hand to him.
One of my good friends, Hope is his last name, stood up with his meal walked out of the diner and sat next to him. The rest of us looked at each other and like sheep stood up to follow a good shepherd. We sat by the door eating with him. I gave my food to this man; but he fed me. I don't know how to explain it other than I felt full. Full of all that I needed to survive in this world.
It was time for us to leave so we stood up and on his face was a beautiful smile. More beautiful than I had seen in my whole life. It was a smile of complete joy. We turned and jumped on a bus to go home. As we sat there on the bus. We all sat silently. I looked in the eyes of each of my friends. All were filled with tears. A feeling overcame me that must have overcame them. I bowed my head and thanked God for the experience. I felt these words that I'll never forget, "thank you, I love that man."
Many say, how can God love us if he allows all this suffering. I don't think words can answer that question but what I felt that day on that bus has answered it for me. He does. I know it.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Janurary 2, 2003 -- Granada Experience
It’s finally 2003, I can’t believe it – time flys. I can’t even remember a hundredth part of what happened in 2002 but I give an overview.
About 1 year ago I was transferred to San Mariano. That place at first became a great challenge that I had to overcome. My first companion was Draper – one of the nicest kids ever. I loved Draper, he taught me so many great things. The thing that I was the most impressed with him was his love and dedication to the work. Draper had a hard life right before he came on his mission. His father died of cancer. The thing that impressed me most with him was that at that time his brother had the same kind of cancer but it didn’t faze him he just kept on working. I saw a living example of a man that Jesus described when he said that any man that turns back is not worthy of his work and that great phrase came “let the dead bury the dead.” Some preach it Draper lived it.
Soon after that fast Sunday came, and I still remember what I fasted for, I fasted that I would understand the language better. A week later Draper was transferred and Granada came into my life. Granada is the hardest person to understand. His Tagalog is horrible and it is almost impossible to understand. At first I found it most difficult to communicate; and I thought Granada to be very rude. I came to a point that I hated Granada with all fiber of my being and didn't mind if he was to die. My first reaction was that something must be wrong. I felt that I was in the wrong area and I remembered that zone conference was coming soon. As the days came closer to zone conference my hatred for Granada grew and I wanted to be transferred. So I came to the conclusion that I was not suppose to be in San Mariano. I decided to tell President that I needed to be transferred. On the way to Ilagan for zone conference, I asked the Lord to help me with my problem. The Lord answered my prayer half way through the meeting President stopped his talk and told all of us that he prays long and hard to know where we are suppose to go. I knew that after President had said that that was my answer to my prayer but the logical question that followed was – why?
I took this picture at the place where I felt my heart changed. I do not remember the boys name who is in the picture. He was our guide. Behind the boy is the corn field and to his left is the river.
Why was I there? Why was I supposed to go through that hell? I went home and dropped on my knees and asked the Lord for help. I prayed so long and hard I drew tears; I couldn’t take it. After the prayer, I stood on my feet and picked up the Liahona and read the article about how in all trials we need to grow. I can’t remember what it was about but I remember a man named Wirthlin wrote the article. All I remember is that it changed my heart to realize that even though Granada was wrong in some of the things he was doing, I was wrong for not loving him for who he was. I felt a great relief after I read that but I still hated him. The next day I prayed and as we walked down over the market place up to the Catholic Church. As we walked across the river, I asked God to change my heart. By the time we got out of the city and into the corn fields I felt a love come over me that changed my soul. This feeling grew stronger as we walked through this corn field and this love eventually took over my body. I stopped there by that river and thanked God and looked at Granada and thought of how much I loved him.
I was happy for the rest of the day. I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. When we arrived home that night a note was pinned to my door. It said that something had happened in another area and that I would be transferred at the next transfer meeting. I'm grateful that God let me suffer so I could see the good in Granada. Granada is a great man. It was too bad I let my hate get in the way of us become good friends.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
My First Significant Experience
I decided to record my first significant experience with God. My experience mainly have come through prayer; but I have realized his hand in my life over and over.
Years ago, I went to the Philippines to do some missionary service. I still remember flying on the airplane for 15 hours. For the first five hours of the flight over the Pacific, I looked out my window. I watched in amazement as I realized we were traveling around 500 miles per hour and all I could see for thousands of miles was water. In a moment, I had a feeling that I had never felt up to that point in my life. I felt small. Real small. I felt so insignificant in this vast world.
When we arrived in Manila, I was overwhelmed by the humidity. I walked through the airport wondering how people withstood this heat. When I walked outside, I realized the airport was air conditioned. I walked outside and all I could see was people everywhere. Of course I knew there were other people in this world, but this was the first time it hit me that this world was full of people. Billions of people. They were everywhere. I started to question a lot of the things I was taught about God. How could he really know all of us? The world just seemed too big and too crowded for one being to be conscious of all of that was in the world. Yet, I was taught He knew us all and he knew all things.
We were cramed into a small car and carted off to a holdover place before we would catch another plane to our remote post. Because of the time change, I was out of it. It was late at night and I could not sleep. I walked out and saw a man sitting with a guitar. I don't know why but I stopped to talk to him. He seemed absorbed in his thoughts. He stopped playing his guitar and spoke with me. He told me something that later came to be great advice. He said, to enjoy the time given me because it will someday come to an end. (I'll talk about this in a later entry).
A few hours later, some fellow missionaries and I were sent off to Tuguegarao (city in Northern Philippines). Before I left, I had committed to the Lord that I would stay in the Philippines for two years. When I landed in Tuguegarao, my mind was changing very quickly. It was hot and I was tried. I didn't understand what anyone was saying. I felt alone and lost for the first time in my life. Growing up I was always in a bubble. We never really moved after I was five years old so I grew up with the same friends. My family was always close by if I ever need them. I was quick to make friends. Life was easy. My food and housing were always provided. This was the first time I was on my own. No one was there to hold my hand. Even though I was far away I was not trapped, a telephone call to my father and he would have purchased a plane ticket for me to return.
The weight of the world seemed to be hanging over me. I wanted to go home but I wanted to keep my commitment. I don't believe I ever questioned God lived until that moment in my life.Before, there was never a reason to question God. He lives. Everyone knew that, that is what I thought. Now, I was questioning.
I remember the moment very well. It was about 9:00 at night. I was walking home with two other men after we had visited a family that needed our help. I had been working since 6:00 that morning and I was exhausted. I started to cry. I decided to pray in my mind. I pleaded for God to help me. I said, "if you want me to stay, I'm going to need your help." At that very moment, one of the men that was with me started to play a song on his harmonica. It was a song I had heard many times. I never really paid attention to the lyrics but I was familiar to the tune. When he started to play, the words of the song came to my mind. The words became very vivid.The lyrics of the song had a part that said, "and should we die, all is well". As the words came to my mind something changed in my heart. The desire to quit left and it was replace with a power of hope. A hope that I could overcome this new life that I was faced with. My tears were wiped away by the smile that came to my face. I felt like God was near. As a matter of fact, as if he was walking down that road in Penablanca (city outside of Tuguegarao) with me.
I came to know, at that time, that my Heavenly Father was real. He was not some good idea but an actual being. I came to know that he knew who I was and that he was listening to my prayers. I came to know a little more about my God.
Years ago, I went to the Philippines to do some missionary service. I still remember flying on the airplane for 15 hours. For the first five hours of the flight over the Pacific, I looked out my window. I watched in amazement as I realized we were traveling around 500 miles per hour and all I could see for thousands of miles was water. In a moment, I had a feeling that I had never felt up to that point in my life. I felt small. Real small. I felt so insignificant in this vast world.
When we arrived in Manila, I was overwhelmed by the humidity. I walked through the airport wondering how people withstood this heat. When I walked outside, I realized the airport was air conditioned. I walked outside and all I could see was people everywhere. Of course I knew there were other people in this world, but this was the first time it hit me that this world was full of people. Billions of people. They were everywhere. I started to question a lot of the things I was taught about God. How could he really know all of us? The world just seemed too big and too crowded for one being to be conscious of all of that was in the world. Yet, I was taught He knew us all and he knew all things.
We were cramed into a small car and carted off to a holdover place before we would catch another plane to our remote post. Because of the time change, I was out of it. It was late at night and I could not sleep. I walked out and saw a man sitting with a guitar. I don't know why but I stopped to talk to him. He seemed absorbed in his thoughts. He stopped playing his guitar and spoke with me. He told me something that later came to be great advice. He said, to enjoy the time given me because it will someday come to an end. (I'll talk about this in a later entry).
A few hours later, some fellow missionaries and I were sent off to Tuguegarao (city in Northern Philippines). Before I left, I had committed to the Lord that I would stay in the Philippines for two years. When I landed in Tuguegarao, my mind was changing very quickly. It was hot and I was tried. I didn't understand what anyone was saying. I felt alone and lost for the first time in my life. Growing up I was always in a bubble. We never really moved after I was five years old so I grew up with the same friends. My family was always close by if I ever need them. I was quick to make friends. Life was easy. My food and housing were always provided. This was the first time I was on my own. No one was there to hold my hand. Even though I was far away I was not trapped, a telephone call to my father and he would have purchased a plane ticket for me to return.
The weight of the world seemed to be hanging over me. I wanted to go home but I wanted to keep my commitment. I don't believe I ever questioned God lived until that moment in my life.Before, there was never a reason to question God. He lives. Everyone knew that, that is what I thought. Now, I was questioning.
I remember the moment very well. It was about 9:00 at night. I was walking home with two other men after we had visited a family that needed our help. I had been working since 6:00 that morning and I was exhausted. I started to cry. I decided to pray in my mind. I pleaded for God to help me. I said, "if you want me to stay, I'm going to need your help." At that very moment, one of the men that was with me started to play a song on his harmonica. It was a song I had heard many times. I never really paid attention to the lyrics but I was familiar to the tune. When he started to play, the words of the song came to my mind. The words became very vivid.The lyrics of the song had a part that said, "and should we die, all is well". As the words came to my mind something changed in my heart. The desire to quit left and it was replace with a power of hope. A hope that I could overcome this new life that I was faced with. My tears were wiped away by the smile that came to my face. I felt like God was near. As a matter of fact, as if he was walking down that road in Penablanca (city outside of Tuguegarao) with me.
I came to know, at that time, that my Heavenly Father was real. He was not some good idea but an actual being. I came to know that he knew who I was and that he was listening to my prayers. I came to know a little more about my God.
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